A Comprehensive Guide to Brummie Slang

The UK is home to an incredible array of accents and dialects (and languages). You never have to travel far to discover a new hyperlocal phrase, or even a totally different-sounding way of speaking. The country’s second most populous city, Birmingham, is home to one of the most distinctive and utterly charming dialects in the whole of the UK. Just like London slang and Mancunian speak in Manchester, Brummie is a dialect in itself that takes years to master. For now, here are the basics to get you started.

0121 – used to tell someone to get lost: “0121 do one”.

A face as long as Livery Street – a really sad face. Livery Street is ridiculously long.

Ackee – the playground game of tag.

Aggin’ – complaining or moaning.

Ain’t – it is not.

Ar – yes, or to agree with something.

Ark at that – listen to that!

Bab – an endearing term to a female.

Babby – a young child.

Back of Rackhams – often used as an insult, as the back of Rackhams was thought to be a red light area.

Black over Bill’s mother’s – black clouds are coming. Bill is William Shakespeare, which means the rain clouds are coming from Stratford-upon-Avon.

Bonce – a head.

Bost – it’s broken.

Buzz – the bus.

Cack-handed – a clumsy way of doing something.

Cob – a bread roll.

Council pop – tap water.

Deff off – to not do something.

Ee-yar – here you are.

Ent – it is not.

Entry – the alley between terraced houses.

Fizzy pop – a fizzy drink.

Gambol – a forward roll.

Garage – a petrol station.

Gully – an alleyway, or space round the back of houses.

Having a Benny – to throw a strop.

Island – a roundabout.

It’s raining in – rain is getting inside the house, close the window.

Leg it – run away.

Mither/Myther – pestering someone.

Mom – mother. NOT MUM.

Mooch – have a look around.

Munch – to hug/cuddle.

Nause – someone who makes a mess of something.

One bomb – to knock someone out with one punch.

Outdoor – the off licence.

Peaky blinder – a flat cap worn by the Birmingham gang in the 1900s.

Pop – squash; not to be confused with fizzy drinks.

Rezza – the reservoir, most likely Edgbaston.

Round the Wrekin – going the long way around (after the Wrekin Hills in Shropshire)

Tara-a-bit – see you later.

Tea – dinner, around 6/7pm.

The cut – the canal.

The Bull – a bronze statue outside the Bullring, and a general meeting place in town.

Tip top – a long fruit-flavoured ice lolly.

Tot – an alcoholic drink.

Town – Birmingham city centre.

Wag – skip school or miss a lesson on purpose.

Wench – an affectionate term for a young woman.

Wooden hills – old term for stairs.

Got any words to add? Let us know in the comments!

Now that you’re armed with a local’s vocabulary, why not put it to the test on one of these tours, experiences and activities in Birmingham.